Brian K. Carson was scheduled to be in court this morning to answer charges that he beat up his wife.

Teresa Carson told police that she and her husband fought Dec. 17 in the living room of their Elkhorn home. Brian struck her twice in the back of the head, then punched her in the nose, causing her to seek medical help at an area hospital, Teresa told police.

The reason for their argument: Brian was sleeping with his son’s girlfriend, court records state.

On Sunday, less than 24 hours before his scheduled court appearance, Brian Carson, 45, was found slain, his body abandoned in a car parked near 234th and State Streets.

His son Ryan Carson, 19, is accused of killing the elder Carson. He is being held in Douglas County jail on suspicion of second-degree murder.

Nicole M. Walker, 19, and Jeffrey P. Hill, 22, also have been arrested. They are accused of being accessories to a felony.

Court records don’t indicate if the Carsons have more than one son. Nor do they cite the name of the girlfriend over whom the Carsons had argued.

Walker had been dating Ryan Carson, according to one of her relatives. The relative did not know if the two still dated. Police also said Ryan Carson and Nicole Walker had a relationship, but would not say if they currently are involved.

JUST ANOTHER suburban house in just another quiet bedroom community. A man living a typical life, with a typical wife, raising typical kids.

And, I guess, all of that is true enough. Right down to having a couple of typical beers with a typical neighbor guy:

Brent Ruppert said he used to live in the Ramblewood neighborhood near Brian Carson. Rupert said Carson was a good guy and a hard worker.

Ruppert said he remembers Carson working maintenance at some apartment complexes during the day and then stocking shelves at a No Frills overnight.

"He was a pretty good guy," Ruppert said. "He and I would sometimes kick back in the driveway and have some beers."

TYPICAL.Look closer.

This is the start of Holy Week, the most solemn on the Christian calandar. It is now -- not exclusively now, but especially now -- that we are forced to reflect on where, exactly, the ripples eminating from our wretchedness all ended up.

That would be Calvary.

But the ripples from our sins continue to roil the waters of our existence. And sometimes typical lives -- lived in a typical house, on a typical street in a typical community -- can slide beneath the waves, never to emerge again.